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Thinking of studying to be a nurse, advice

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/15/2012 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hello

Well I already have a degree, which I completed pre UC (in arts) and have decided I would like to become a nurse. (i'm 25 now so old enough for a career change) I can either do a 2 year masters or a 3 year nursing degree to do this.  Before I can apply I need some voluntary experience which I'l get soon, and looking to apply for 2013 entry as I have a few financial things to sort first. stupid credit card bills.  

My main question is, can one be a nurse and have UC, like work load and such, night shifts. I'm on Azathioprine but hardly get colds. I want to give something back - this isn't a flash in the pan i've been to open days and researched it thoroughly, just not mentioned the disease to any tutors.

Also does anybody in the UK know about any disability allowances I can make use of. If dyslexics can get free macs then there must be something we're entitled to.. thought somebody here could help

Posted 5/15/2012 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe there's something else in the medical field that would spark your interest where your exposure might not be quite as fragile?
Posted 5/15/2012 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a retired nurse. I spent the last ten years of my career as a program manager in human services, running a home-visiting parent education program for new parents. At this job, I was mostly in my office with occasional home visits with my staff. I can tell you that there was no way I could have worked on a hospital patient-care floor when I was flaring for the first five years after diagnosis. However, I was in my 50's and my flare was very bad, so your situation in that regard may be very different.

One thing a lot of people don't realize is that hospital nursing is very hard physical work. In most positions there's a lot of time on your feet (here in the US, they're supplying the nurses with computer carts to do record-keeping, and they even have to stand up do do their paper-work!) Plus there's some amount of lifting, etc. If your UC is controlled and fatigue isn't a big problem you might be up to it, but in a bad flare?

As far as diseases, you may be better protected in a nursing job than in most others, because infection control is such a big priority in healthcare facilities. In my experience, you're more likely to catch something from a visitor or co-worker than from a patient.

Here in the US there is a wide variety of jobs nurses can do, from hospitals to home nursing to community health programs. Some require much less physical stamina than others. I was lucky to be working in an area where the work was mostly mental and to have an employer who could allow me to be flexible with my hours when I was very sick.

Good luck with your decision-making.
Posted 5/15/2012 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
I am not a nurse but I am in health care and have been for 25 years.  I think Judy2 wrote a wonderful reply and I agree with it completely.  Nursing now is so much more than what we see on the floors or in a clinic.  Certainly there is a lot of opportunity to do something different if that is what you want to do.  Nurses are working call centers for health care organizations and insurance companies, they may be involved with reviewing claims, education, occ health, workers comp, quality management, and so much more.  I will say though that many positions are going to require some amount of experience so be prepared if you need to get the floor time or clinic time to qualify for some other stuff.  I know you wrote you are in the UK but I doubt it is much different.  My cousin has Chrohn's that was diagnosed sometime in his teens and he just finished medical school.  I am married to a nurse and she is wonderful and probably the most understanding when it comes to really knowing what people with UC go through.  She has been through some rather painful (and quite frankly some embarrassing) times and has stuck right beside me.  Best of luck to you. It is a noble profession.  I am sure the right decision will come to you.

 

Posted 5/16/2012 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have two friends who are university qualified nurses.
And I just wanted to had that on top of that they need nurses everywhere in the world.
On went for 3 years in switzerland and the other in Australia. The last one stayed there!

It's usually easy to get a work visa because nurses are always on the shortage list! So it could be an opportunity if you wish!
Posted 5/16/2012 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Here in the U.S. nurses' training requires shift work in hospitals-- that would likely be the most tiring part for you to cope with. I have a younger female relative who entered training while mothering a young child, then had a 2nd child after becoming a registered nurse. Then she resumed college study to finish a Batchelor of Science degree. A couple years later she enrolled in a Master's degree program to become a certified nurse-midwife. What spurred her onward with this was the feeling, based on her own patient experience, that more female practitioners should be working in gynecology. Luckily, she has always been healthy so she had the stamina to stick with the program & hospital work while raising a family. You need to think very pragmatically about time commitments & physical energy levels when deciding on future study & work. Have you looked into medical career alternatives, such as speech therapy? In the U.S. it requires a 2-yr Master's degree + paid internship for 9-12 months. Then one has choices to work with stroke or accident victims, schoolchildren, singers, or physically-challenged patients in many different settings. I can't speak for UK career/work conditions, but in the U.S. speech or occupational therapy positions provide a good income & professional satisfaction while being less physically demanding than clinical nursing jobs. It's great that you are interested in preparing for a career in a helping field & with enough attention to your own physical needs you will arrive at the right choice of direction.
Posted 5/23/2012 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have been an RN for 7 years and was diagnosed with UC 2 years ago (but I had mild symptoms 5 years prior to that). I work on a trauma unit that is very fast-paced and high stress. I'm not going to lie...It has been very difficult to work during a flare. It is extremely hard to take care of others when you are constantly having to run to the bathroom. But one good thing about being a nurse is you will always have great insurance. It has helped me afford the many medications that I've had to take. Also, there are so many different kinds of nursing jobs. A few that may be easier to handle during flares are a school nurse or occupational health nurse. (Not that ANY job is easy to work while flaring!.) Although it is difficult, I can't imagine doing anything else. I would definitely recommend pursuing a nursing degree!
Posted 5/23/2012 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Personally, I would love to have a GI nurse who had IBD. I've had this disease almost 3 years and I have never met another person with it. It would have been very comforting to know that someone involved in my care understood the disease on an emotional level, not just a scientific one.

If you're concerned about getting sick because of your immunosuppression, you could always choose a specialty like psychiatry, neurology, endocrinology, or nephrology.

I hope you go for it. Don't let IBD get in the way of what you want.
Posted 5/23/2012 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck with what ever choice you decide. Another option could be a dietician? That would be in the same line of work but less physically stressful. I have a friend who has lupus and is a nurse in London and she does OK but it is a physyically demand ing job as mentioned above you're on yur feet almost the entire shift which can be 12 hours. If you're a naturlly fit person who doesn't get that fatigued with UC flares then you might be fine. If you suffer badly during flares it might be tough (but not impossible) job.

Follow your dreams!
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